Elvis Presley once graced the cover of Harley-Davidson’s The Enthusiast magazine. The King, sitting on a 1956 KH, is undeniably cool. But Harley-Davidson produced an even racier version that year—a souped-up 45-degree Flathead engine called the KHK.
This beautifully restored 1956 Harley-Davidson KHK allows anybody to channel their inner Elvis. The KHK’s “Champion Yellow with Black Slash” color scheme is stellar.
High-Performance Tricks
The KHK had the same 883cc displacement as the KH, but its cams were akin to Harley’s 1953 KR factory racing cams. Its heads were ported, polished, and tweaked to accommodate the high-lift cams. The KHK also ran KR valve springs. Harley’s racing department is the reported source of these high-performance tricks.
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The owner put in new pistons that were bored 0.06” over stock to go along with new rings. The first overhead-valve Ironhead Sportster debuted in 1957, so this is the last year for Harley’s K-model Flathead engines. The company produced only about 700 of the ultra-rare KHK models in 1956.
Count the Innovations
Harley-Davidson’s K-series of motorcycles, to which the KHK belongs, saw a couple of significant firsts for the company. First, the four-speed transmission was housed in the same case as the engine. That made it Harley’s first unit construction engine built for a street bike. (It had made one earlier for a 125 dirt bike).
Harley-Davidson replaced the leading-link arrangement of Harley’s WL with a telescopic fork. And its swingarm is paired to two enclosed coil-over shocks. A rear suspension on a street bike was another first for The Harley-Davidson Motor Company.
The K-model Flathead also saw a couple of notable developments during its short run. In 1954, Harley lengthened its stroke, bumping up capacity from 45 to 54 cubic inches—increasing peak output from 30 to 38 horsepower.
Racing cams and valve springs boosted the number of 52 horsepower in a 1956 Harley KHK like this one. Its engine-transmission-clutch unit formed the basis for Harley’s subsequent Sportster engine.
Just Like the Terminator
The 1956 Harley KHK features plenty of keen styling details, like the checkered flag graphic on the oil tank and the fantastic raised Harley-Davidson logo on the tank. In addition, the round gauge of the tachometer/speedometer is embedded into the top of the fork.
If the chrome plate covering the top of the KHK’s fork looks familiar, you can thank Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Harley Fat Boy he rode in Terminator 2. The bike’s chrome bits, from its pipes to its shocks and air cleaner cover, are in admirable shape. In addition, the old chrome horn peeking out from the left side of the bike adds to the nostalgic appeal of the 66-year-old Harley.
The seller said:
This 1956 KHK was meticulously restored with the original factory-installed parts. It runs as great as it looks.
If the new owner is eager to test that statement, take note that the motorcycle is kickstart only. And the bike has a right-foot shift instead of the modern-day left. Those features take a little time to learn, but the effort pays off with the thrilling experience of riding this remarkable ’56 Harley-Davidson KHK.
